ASTONISHING NEWS: G.H. Frater Sincerus Renatus (7=4) Leaves Alpha Omega!

An Open Letter from ...

G.H. Frater Sincerus Renatus (7=4)

Imperator
Hermetiska Orden av Den Gryende Morgonrodnaden
in Hyperboria

G.H. Frater S.R. today wrote:

Four days ago, on Winter Solstice, I declared that I have left the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the Outer Order of the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha et Omega® (H.O.G.D./A+O). The fact is that I left the H.O.G.D./A+O already a fortnight ago but decided to wait with the official declaration until the December 21st as I wanted all of the interested parties and my own students a chance to know about and react to it beforehand. I wasn’t sure that I would make any declaration on the Gyllene Gryningen Blog until the next Vernal Equinox, but as the reaction on the blogosphere was swift following my Facebook declaration, I have finally decided to break my silence on the blogosphere as well, on this Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, Yule or Christmas Day. What better day to make such a declaration that on the birthday of the Sun? These are the times optimal in which seeds should be planted to bear fruit in the Spring.

As I said, the news has already spread over at the blogosphere in two instances, one positive and one not so positive, or at least sceptic or perhaps cautiously favorable. However, in that sceptical last instance (which I won’t link to as it is a source of worst kind of gossip and mischievious rumours) my resignation has been turned into a schism. I feel obliged to my gentle readers to correct this misrepresentation about my departure. It is not a schism. There is a mutual recognition between the H.O.G.D./A+O and myself, and whatever I plan to do or organize regarding the furtherment of the Tradition. To schism would be a violation to my own principles. On the contrary, I have my former Chief’s blessing in leaving the H.O.G.D./A+O and to continue the work independently on my own. In the comments section on one of my latest postings David Griffin wrote the following:

"It is a great pleasure to welcome yet another traditional order in the greater Golden Dawn community. This is actually quite important, considering how post-modernists repeatedly attempt to misportray their faction as the entire Golden Dawn community, as though no traditional GD orders exist at all!" 

- David Griffin

Not that I consider myself necessarily to be part of the “greater Golden Dawn Community”, nor that Mr. Griffin’s recognition is vital or fundamentally essential for my continuing work, even though I do welcome it, but it is significant nonetheless in our present discussion; if I had actually schismed from the H.O.G.D./A+O as has been suggested, would he have given me such a blessing? Hardly. And now that Mr. Griffin has welcomed “yet another traditional order in the greater Golden Dawn community”, I also feel obliged to confirm that my old Temple, which was authorized by the H.O.G.D./A+O already in 1997, will continue with the work in administrating legitimate Hermetic initiation in a traditional manner, but totally independent and fully autonomous, and quite separate from the “Golden Dawn Community”. At this present state of things, seeds have been carefully selected and planted into the dark and fertile hyperborean soil which will blossom in full in Spring. A “new” Order is being created as I speak, with the old Swedish Mother Temple as its nucleus, which at the same time is a direct continuation of what was already created in Sweden two decades ago. You, my gentle reader, have to wait until Spring Equinox for more news regarding this coming deliverance. Right now it has to grow safely protected in silence and mystery in a state of pregnancy.

My reasons for leaving the H.O.G.D./A+O are several, but generally strictly personal and not of the general interest of the public. One of the reasons that I choose to share with you regarding why I left the H.O.G.D./A+O is that I have grown weary of the international focus of the Order, something that I have never been comfortable with; now I will be able to focus entirely on Scandinavia and my native Hyperboreans. But I must make this clear for all you gentle readers, regardless if you are a member of the H.O.G.D./A+O or not: I still love the H.O.G.D./A+O and feel sincere and deep gratitude for my 18 years in it. This Order has been my nursery, elemental school and university, and I wouldn’t be the man that I am today without it. But it’s time for me to part from it and finally move on. This is a natural thing and nothing to be worried or alarmed about. One thing is for sure, and that is that I will still remain within the Hermetic Tradition in general and in the Golden Dawn Tradition in particular, and I believe that my previous devotion to it will benefit from the parting and independence.

S∴R∴

An Open Reply From ...

 G.H. Frater Lux ex Septentrionis (8=3)

Imperator, Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

Chief Adept, Rosicrucian Order of Alpha Omega

Care G.H. Frater S∴R∴,

You are quite correct in your assertion that you do not in any way need my recognition. According to long established rules of the Golden Dawn, each regularly initiated Adeptus Exemptus (7=4) is vested with all of the various lineal affiliations. That Adepti Exempti hold these lineages has on more than one occasion protected the fire of the Golden Dawn from extinction.

Each regularly initiated Exempt Adept, by virtue of these traditional authorities, is empowered to reconstitute the Order of the Golden Dawn, should it ever prove necessary.

According to traditional Golden Dawn rules, your choice  is completely "regular" to exercise your 7=4 authorities to establish full independence and autonomy for the Hermetiska Orden av Den Gryende Morgonrodnaden in Scandinavia.

This is something completely different than the actions of (5=6) Minor Adepts like R.W. Felkin and A.E. Waite, who rebelled upon barely reaching the Inner Order to create their own schismatic orders, Stella Matutina and Fellowship of the Rosy Cross.

On a personal note, S∴R, it has been a privilege to oversee your spiritual development through the Golden Dawn's complete Outer and Inner Orders, from (0=0) Neophyte through (7=4) Exempt Adept, over the course of the nearly two decades we have known one another. 

Upon completion of the cycle of initiations of the Alpha Omega's Rosicrucian Second Order, the R.R. et A.C., you have entered into a profound understanding of the value of initiatic death, sojourn in world beyond, and ensuing rebirth.

Your departure from the Alpha Omega evokes a host of feelings for me. There is the sadness a Father feels when his Son moves away from home, but there is also the fulfillment a Father feels for his Son's achieving a Master's degree.

Although you choose to exercise traditional 7=4 authorities to establish full independence and autonomy for the Hermetiska Orden av Den Gryende Morgonrodnaden in Scandinavia - you may  still always count on my counsel whenever you may feel so inclined.

You may also count on my abiding friendship.

Meanwhile, even though you will clearly be missed, the Alpha Omega of course will continue its own initiatic work in Scandinavia without interruption.

G.H. Frater Lux ex Septentrionis (8=3)

Imperator, Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

Chief Adept, Rosicrucian Order of Alpha Omega

Astral-Only Initiation: Broad Consensus across the Golden Dawn Community

by Golden Dawn Imperator

David Griffin

The discussion regarding the benefits and limitations of Astral-only initiation has resurfaced again this week. This discussion has gone on in the Golden Dawn community for years. The fundamental question is whether or not anyone can be exclusively astrally initiated at a distance.

Proponents of Astral-only initiation claim that a group of people (or a Temple) can initiate a person by performing a ritual somewhere else for a person separated by geographical distance, allegedly initiating the candidate by reading off their name in Temple during the ritual.

I have pointed out numerous times in the past, for example here and here, that there is a vast amount of concurrence between the conclusions of various Golden Dawn members all across the entire panorama of the Golden Dawn community on the subject of Astral-only initiation.

Sadly there are still not enough Golden Dawn temples around and Astral-only initiation just does not cut it. This is why it is important that there are other good options around. For example, Peregrin Wildoak this week wrote:

We may not be able to receive [initiation] physically, but we can unfold as if we had by carefully practicing the broader tradition.

Peregrin is correct. There needs to be a effective means of Self-Initiation that somewhat accomplishes the same magical goals as physical initiation present in a real Golden Dawn temple. This closely mirrors the results of my own independent research. There are just not enough locations with Golden Dawn temples and better alternatives must be presented for aspirants in outlying areas.

I still believe that nothing can beat traditional Golden Dawn initiation. If you do not have access to a traditional temple though, my research indicates that the best thing to do is to awaken the magical forces inside of you using Ritual Magic.

This is also why I wrote the Ritual Magic Manual ...

The Ritual Magic Manual fills an essential need for would be Golden Dawn magicians by providing everything you need for the magical component of Self-Initiation on your own, in a complete - step by step - user-friendly format. In the Ritual Magic Manual, you will find all of the pentagrams, hexagrams, Egyptian God Forms, Enochian and Qabalistic names sigils and names of power, flashing colors, etc. - all in one place!

My primary objection to Astral-only initiation has been the less than honest manner that it has been portrayed. For example I wrote here, that my objection arises...:

"...when modern innovations like Astral Initiation get misrepresented to the public as traditional or classical Golden Dawn practices. It is the dishonesty that is most destructive."

In regard to confusion caused by proponents of Astral-only initiation, Donald Michael Kraig wrote here:

"The thing I don’t like is when people pay dues, read some papers, do no work, pay for various “astral initiations,” and then claim to be experts with high levels of initiation. They make real occultists and initiates look foolish and bad." 

My research into the subject has always left me wary that the methods used by proponents of Astral-only initiation have the potential of becoming dangerous. In the past, proponants of Astral-only Initiation have criticised me rather harshy for this online.

I was pleased to read this week that results of independent research conducted by Aaron Leitch has led to similar conclusions. Aaron Leitch writes:

Personally, I find this to be rather dangerous.  I’ve seen how taxing a Neophyte Ceremony (and its aftermath) can be on any candidate, even with access to a full Temple and all the guidance and support that comes with it.  Blasting someone with a massive bolt of LVX and then expecting them to sink or swim on their own is… well, not something I’d do to someone myself.

On other aspects, proponents of Astral-only initiation claim that the founders of the Golden Dawn were themselves  initiated using Astral-only initiation. In this regard, Peregrin Wildoak this week writes:

There are no records of Mathers, Westcott or Woodman travelling to receive physical initiation from the supposed German source of the Golden Dawn. This lack of evidence however, does not support the view they were astrally initiated by continental adepts while safely back home in England.

Proponents of Astral-only initiation claim that it accomplishes everything that traditional Golden Dawn initiation does. I have addressed this issue numerous times over the years. For example, I here I wrote:

"It has been argued that there is always an "astral" element in any genuine Golden Dawn initiation. This is true in the limited sense that the energetic or "astral" body of the candidate is always ultimately impacted by the initiation. In other words, the initiation ritual works on many levels and affects not merely the physical body of the candidate. This does not mean, however, that the actual physical presence of the candidate is not required."

... and here:

"There is an actual transmission of energies from the physical body of the initiating Hierophant to the physical body of the initiate. To fully transmit these energies and fully awaken the LVX current in the energetic body of the candidate is extremely difficult to fully accomplish even under the best of circumstances - with the candidate physically present in the temple."

Reaching similar concusions, Aaron Leitch this week writes:

I agree that *all* initiations involve an astral process. If it didn’t, it wouldn’t be anything more than a passion-play walk-through done merely to say “welcome to our group...The astral is where the magick of the initiation happens. But this is not the same thing that is meant by groups who claim to offer “astral initiation.”

Alpha Omega Adept, Sincerus Renatus correctly points out that the ritual theater elements is also important, here:

"The ritual is a drama, a play, which also has as a function to impart a though form or cognitive structure into the candidate, a theme so to speak, which gives a tone or atmosphere for the Grade. This has to be experienced live and in person, not read through or imagined in the inner eye. Compare this to reading a novel and watching a stage play; two legitimate artistic expressions but quite different in nature and quality. Full and physical initiation is a stage play of old Greek dramatic proportions."

On the same subject, Samuel Scarborough this week writes:

There are certain criteria for an initiation to be considered effective and proper. You clearly outline those criteria of Physical, Astral, Etheric, Mental, Spiritual. I normally only use three levels (Physical, Astral, and Etheric). An initiation should have elements where there is some action on these levels at the same time for the Candidate.

Alpha Omega's, V.H. Frater P. commented here:

"What i miss in this debate is the simple fact that, apart from the energetic transmission from the Hierophant unto the candidate, it is impossible to impregnate the MIND of the candidate with the physical symbols that are displayed in these ceremonies. For doing this, the candidate has to be physically present, and able to use his eyes! Moreover, by blindfolding him/her and exposing him to a dramatic procedure, his mind is made extra sensitive and absorptive. This is an ancient technique."

Donald Michael Kraig this week added:

"When someone says that an Astral Initiation is the one that really counts, they are talking about type AI-1. But some people who are officers in groups or initiates of groups that primarily perform AI-2 initiations falsely want you to believe that saying an Astral Initiation is the one that counts refers to what they are doing. It does not."

I am pleased to see that, whereas for many years I stood nearly alone in pointing out the problems with Astral-only initiationcommunity have come to so closely resemble what I have been saying all along.

Click HERE to explore our Outer Order, undergraduate level Magical training program, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn!"

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Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn®

Making Magicians - Since 1888

Click HERE to explore our Outer Order, undergraduate level Magical training program.

Esoteric Orders, Self-Training & Mental Instability

by Golden Dawn Imperator

David Griffin

The discussion about relative virtues of self-training and formal Order training continues across the Blogosphere!

The latest contribution to this discussion comes once again from Frater Barrabbas, in an intriguing article you can read here.

When it comes to Magic, there are many important arguments for a formal training system. One of these is mental well-being. I mention this because of an email I received this morning from H. Soror D.N.

Regardie and others have discussed this issue, but I still don’t think it gets the attention it deserves. Soror D.N. writes:

"Frankly, I wish a lot of the material in the public domain was not available. It stands to reason that if psychology can resolve insanity, it can also create it. I have never encountered so many lunatics as I do on occult forums. It seems a lot of people who are mentally disturbed are attracted to the occult. Perhaps it is the self-administered occult methods contributing to it. Fully ¼ of the people I meet in this area seem to be borderline schizophrenic.

I have met people who tell me they conjure archangels to have beers with and discuss the universe. Not in visualization, but in real, tangible, physical form! That is schizophrenia, not magic (I think)." - H. Soror D.N.

In the Alpha Omega, we far too often receive admissions applications from individuals who appear psychologically unstable. As a rule, we reject these applications. The Magical flower blooms best on a firmly rooted psychological tree, and the mission of the Alpha Omega is Magical rather than psychological.

I was most fortunate to have a licensed psychotherapist, Cris Monnastre, as my initiator in the outer order. She superbly guided me through very real potential psychological pitfalls in the initiatic process of the Golden Dawn's outer order. Good Hierophants are very important.

It would be ideal if each Order had a psychologist specializing in such matters on staff. We are fortunate in the Alpha Omega to have G.H. Frater Sincerus Renatus, who is a trained psychotherapist.

I have therefore asked G.H. Frater S.R. to comment on the above, since this issue receives far too little attention in the Golden Dawn community.

Sincerus Renatus writes:

Sincerus Renatus

"I basically agree with the (above) assesment about the amount of seriously mentally disturbed people seeking initiation and the occult arts; I have had my share of that in the Sandinavian jurisdiction of the A.O. ... I have had significant direct experience of this before and have barred several people initiation because of symptoms ranging from clinical depression to autism, etc. As a psychotherapist I know how to spot them, but sometimes they are good at hiding their symptoms until it is too late... 

My conclusion and experience says that it is not magical practices 'per se' that create “lunatics” in the occult community, but rather it is mentally disturbed individuals who seek magic and initiation in hope of being healed from their condition. You also find this in professional education of psychologists and therapists, where there is an overrepresentation of mentally disturbed individuals seeking that kind of training in hope of being remedied themselves. 

Magical techniques, because of their very nature to open up and putting down borders in the psyche, only augment these symptoms. The initiatic process of disintegration, separation and purification, followed by reintegration (solve et coagula) have a direct, damaging effect on indivuduals who lack a basic integration of their psyche; borderline schizophrenics or individuals with asperger’s syndrome, or other dissociative disorders, will only become crushed under the intense pressure that initiation creates. I am 100% convinced that initiation and magic cannot be a substitution for psychotherapy if you are experiencing mental disorders. There has to be at least a basic level of integration of the psyche. I always ask my candidates if they are diagnosed with psychic disorders, etc. I also ask specific questions to try to spot them ..." - GH Frater Sincerus Renatus

On the relative virtues of training on one's own or within an Order structure, note how the military has unpublished training methods that are kept secret for a good reason. Even with all the former soldiers running around, those secrets remain secret, for the most part. Additionally, even with all the information on war fighting and martial arts, very few can train themselves to effectively prosecute a battle.

Available information does not equate to a system of training. If having information available was all that matters, millions of dollars would not be spent on finding the best coach for a professional team or the best CEO for a company. The teacher and leader of an organization make the difference entirely. Anyone who disagrees doesn’t pay attention to professional sports.

The argument Frater Barrabbas puts forth against formal Orders is limited. Yes, all the things he offers are potential drawbacks to an Order. However, safeguards can be put in place to avoid those limitations. If those safeguards fail, students can still walk, as they did with the Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn - en masse - two years ago.

However, the problems inherent in self training cannot be eradicated. Data is not information and while people can learn, most cannot usually effectively self-instruct. There is little information that isn’t public about medicine and surgery; however nobody is taking the self-physician approach for a reason. Corporations are cesspools of human troubles but our limited minds have yet to find a better approach to building an international system for the design, production, selling, and support of complex products.

I again agree with Barrabbas that most formal Orders will fade, especially unless they rise to the challenges of the 21st Century. This is why the Alpha Omega continuously tries to improve both our curriculum and teaching methods.

Perhaps they will indeed fade, but I also believe that the formal Order structures will also return. The pendulum always swings both ways. With luck, we make a minor improvement each time.

There is no point getting bogged down splitting hairs over the relative virtues of formal Orders and self-initiation. Since I lead an esoteric Order, my position is obvious. 

Jake Stratton-Kent

I laud the achievements of disciplined, self-taught Magicians like Frater Barrabbas and Jake Straton-Kent. Still, I do believe a formal Order has something to offer, or I would not have dedicated my life to helping aspirants to become Magicians. An Order does provide a structured method for incremental growth toward becoming a magician. Whether or not someone could do it on their own is immaterial. 

The Order provides a service; therefore it has a right to exist. Even if I prepared my own meals, I would not advocate for the closing of restaurants nor would I denigrate their purpose. Some people can’t cook or don’t want to. Some people can’t learn on their own or don’t want to. We are here for them, not to satisfy people who have disdain for formal systems.

The Alpha Omega must also face the reality that graduating our outer order, the H.O.G.D. requires a commitment to becoming a Magician that many aspirants are simply not prepared to make.

The A.O. must absolutely continue to support self-initiates and solitary practitioners. In the A.O., we are not interested in building an empire. We are interested in helping to make Magicians - including even those who choose to self-train. 

This is why the A.O. - with our 1,000 Points of Light initiative - is encouraging the creation of Personal Temples, providing articles, and both on-line and in person Ritual Magic instruction, coaching, feedback and support for self-taught and aspiring Magicians. 

This is also why (and this is news!) ...

"The Alpha Omega invites solitary practitioners and self-initiates to the International Golden Dawn Pow Wow in April, 2013!"

At the end of the day, Barrabbas, Nick, Jake, and all the others are striving to help people bring Magic into their lives. The Alpha Omega and other Orders are doing the same. Barrabbas et al. publish materials and reference already published materials to further the cause of Magic. The A.O. does the same thing. Barrabbas et al. experiment to find new and better ways to experience Magic. So does the A.O. Does a formal Order have its drawbacks? Yes. Does going it alone have its drawbacks? Yes.

Ah, the beauty of a free market!

But here is the difference. In an Order, the curriculum has been proven through countless trials. For the most part – it works. A karate school has its ranking system and method of instruction. The military has its boot camp. The university has its curriculum. None of these guarantee perfection, but they all have proven their systems are effective for most people. What does the free-lancer offer? Here are some books, good luck. Maybe the solo occultist excels and replaces Levi in the world. Maybe not.

Formal Orders have one more ace up their sleeve. You can join a formal Order and still “do your own thing.” You get both worlds. By not joining, you get one. As Sun Tzu says, always move toward more options, not fewer.

One recent point of discussion aroused particular passion in certain Golden Dawn members - unhappiness that practitioners are usually required to begin again as Neophytes when they enter most occult Orders. Today, in an email to me, V.H. Frater Q.P. wrote:

"Anyone that cannot set aside their ego to join as a Neophyte is probably not suited for work within an Order. That’s not a put down, it’s just reality. Some people are not suited for corporate work, military service, or married life. That doesn’t mean others aren’t. I spent four years in the Army to become a sergeant and when I enlisted in the Marines I had to go back to being a private and go back to boot camp. That’s just the price you pay. 

Being assigned the title of Neophyte does not take away your “magic powers.” It is a rank within an organization, not a label of self-worth. If I went back to college for a new degree, I would be labeled a Freshman (even though I am almost 50 with a PhD). I wouldn’t be a Freshman because they stripped me of my present knowledge or position in life, but because that’s what we call people in their first year of a particular discipline! 

If Patton resurrected and joined the marines, he would be a private and go to boot camp. If Dion Fortune, William Gray, and Christian Rosenkruntz resurrected and joined the AO, they would be Neophytes. Not because they don’t know anything, but because they are learning the system. These are titles of where you are in a learning system, not representations of self-worth (at least that’s the way I understand it)." - V.H. Frater Q.P.

To this I wish only to add a bit of factual information about the Alpha Omega. We do as a rule require everyone who joins the A.O. to complete our entire undergraduate level, First Order curriculum. However, like universities, we also do have the equivalent of CLEP exams, so if you are a Magician with prior knowledge, you do have the opportunity to test quickly out of the Grades of our H.O.G.D. First Order.

Moreover, even top Universities also at times award honorary PhDs to significant achievers from outside. In the Alpha Omega, we occasionally award an "Honorary Adeptus Minor" (5=6) to advanced Magicians.

Of course, if an honorary Adept wants to pursue post-graduate level, Second Order (R.R. et A.C.) training with us, you will still have to CLEP out of our undergraduate level, First Order. In  any case, we do award you an honorary place in our Second Order, College of the Adepti.

Click here to explore our undergraduate level training program, the H.O.G.D.

Alpha Omega

Making Magicians - Since 1888!

Peace, Not War in the Golden Dawn!

by guest blogger

Sincerus Renatus

Some of you will know that the Order which I represent in Scandinavia, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn®, announced a peace initiative at the Vernal Equinox of 2009 - which has become known as the "olive branch" of David Griffin - and invited all parties to follow suit. 

The HOGD/AO long ago came to realize that the kind of internet circus, which all of the major Golden Dawn Orders has been involved in since the middle 1990's, destroys nothing but the overall reputation of the Golden Dawn, not only as a physical body but also as an idea and as a tradition.

I know for a fact, from personal experience, that serious students are frightened away from a golden opportunity of spiritual growth because of this constant mud slinging between factions.

Our peace offering in 2009 was ignored and the attacks on our order and its leaders continued on the Internet. Still determined to foster brotherhood and harmony in the Golden Dawn community, we tried again last Spring. We invited Adepts from the entire Golden Dawn community to our International Conclave of Golden Dawn Adepti in March, 2012. As rumors surfaced of Adepts threatened by Golden Dawn leaders with expulsion if they attended, the attacks on the internet once again greatly intensified.

I know for a fact that all of these peace efforts have been sincere. These are not just empty words. The HOGD/AO has launched peace initiative upon peace initiative to foster peace and harmony in the Golden Dawn community. Recently, we even announced an International Golden Dawn Pow Wow and have again invited the entire Golden Dawn community, this time even the outer order.

The result of this sincere invitation has been intensified attacks upon the reputation of our order and its leaders on the Internet, coupled with the reappearance of defamatory anonymous blogs published by blog trolls. We have seen this all before,  over and over, and numerous leaders of the recon GD community have linked to the "anonymous" blogs, so there is little doubt who is really behind them.

In the past, we as a community had to get used to anonymous defamation websites, but the saddest part of the Witch Hunt against the HOGD/AO spilled over to the blogosphere, which I refer to as the "Blog Trolls". So, naive as I am and against better judgement, I thought that I could perhaps reason with one of these guys (why do we always presume that these persons are male?) and embarked on, what I initially though was, a serious debate. I tried to reason with the guy telling him that what he did on his blog was counterproductive towards the entire Golden Dawn community, but to no avail.

I have learnt a hard lesson: Don't deal with anonymous blog trolls, don't feed them with more fuel. I did and I deeply regret that I even gave him serious attention. So now I admonish you all, who are serious in creating peace in the Golden Dawn community.

Anonymous trolls are a blight on the entire Golden Dawn. Those who attack the Alpha Omega using anonymous blog trolls think that they are harming only our order with all of the vile defamation in the anonymous blogs. They are severely mistaken. Anonymous attack blogs are severely harming the reputation of the entire Golden Dawn, both as an idea and as a tradition.

You can not reason with Anonymous Blog Trolls. They exist solely to poison and destroy the Golden Dawn by spreading misrepresentations, lies, and defamations. If you try to reason with blog trolls, they just keep repeating the same defamation talking points over and over, because they are engaging in propaganda rather than any legitimate discourse. I have tried to reason with them in the past. Based on that experience, I give you the following advice:

Don’t feed the blog trolls! 

The sad truth is that the sincere Pow Wow peace offer (March 29-April 9, 2013) from our order to all other Golden Dawn orders, has so far been met with nothing but renewed defamation campaigns, and even with the reappearance of the anonymous blogs that have so harmed the reputation of the entire Golden Dawn in the past. This sadly gives the impression that there is no real interest in any peace from any other Golden Dawn Order today except the HOGD/AO. 

But my sincere hope is that others are also interested in true peace and harmony in the Golden Dawn together with a Golden Dawn free of the internet circus that has nearly already destroyed the reputation of the Golden Dawn over the past 20 years.

Perhaps I am being naive again, but I still believe in the Golden Dawn. I hope I can find my way back into even to my original naiveness, in my belief that everything, including the Golden Dawn, is progressing to integration or "Gold". 

I believe in a Golden Dawn where all recognize one another as brothers and sisters. 

I believe in a Golden Dawn free of anonymous blog trolls spewing hatred across the internet.

I believe in a Golden Dawn community that sets a spiritual example for the rest or the esoteric community, instead of making itself look pathetic because of hatred spread by blog trolls.

Or am I a fool to believe in a future and Invisible Golden Dawn Fraternity "made without hands”?

S∴R∴

FRATERNAL DEBATE: "What is the difference between Traditional Golden Dawn and Reconstructionism?"

by Sincerus Renatus

Golden Dawn Reconstructionist, Pat Zalewski, recently wrote:

"I was having a chat today with another GD'er on the Inner Order teachings of some temples which brought up some interesting viewpoints. discussion we talked about the two methods of obtaining GD teachings which essentially is from your own efforts and experience in the GD or bringing in some other orders material en block. It simply depends on the development of the temple or people concerned. If you follow the Mathers pattern of the subgrades (also Portal and 5=6)the elemental rituals then it is unlikely that newer material would explain these ritual levels, especially godforms, diagrams and movement patterns etc.

"However the GD was develop to allow for a growth patterns within the adepts to have the ability to create this material and keep creating it as more inner order members go through the system and add their own input. Now C. has done this, Open Source has done this, Nick has done this and my guys have done this along with many other GD temples. That is the true beauty of the orders teachings in allowing you to create this from 5=6 and up. Its allows different temples to explore different areas. All you have to do is think back 30 years ago in the GD when 5=6 was considered the ultimate and Regardie's books the pinnacle of GD development. With technology being what it is now and the what is likely over the next 30 years much of the material we are doing in individual temples will be leaked to other groups and there will most likely an amalgamation of sorts.

"Now when you bring in other material en block then all of this growth and development that you wish to experience will be bypassed- unless this new material looks at the subgrades from the GD ritual viewpoint and follows the frame work of each level explaining the ritual of previous levels.

"I sincerely wish all those GD temples out there the best of luck and activelyencourage them to start writing their own material for the sub grades and up, including their own rituals above the 5=6."

Golden Dawn Traditionalist, Sincerus Renatus, replied:

These are typical talking points of Pat Zalewski, that the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and its parent order, the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha Omega somehow use "other Orders'" materials. In reality, our order's advanced teachings area not more "other" than the 2nd Order is to the 1st Order. I know for a fact that the new teachings explain external theurgical formula using internal formulas; there is a direct connection and lineage. Thus what the 3rd Order of the A.O. teaches is the crowning of the so-called "Golden Dawn system of Magic" as published by Regardie, et al.

Pat Zalewski is gravely mistaken if he thinks that it is possible to extract higher teachings which will work magically and alchemically from what may be gathered from the published 1st and 2nd Order material. Some may be extracted for sure but the effects on the inititate is marginal from a pure magical / alchemical / energetic level.

There exist 3rd Order formulae from which the 2nd Order formulae derived. The only possible way to receive these teachings is to become inititate into them. This requires a 3rd Order initiate, or what is commonly referred to as a "secret chief". This is the traditional way, and this is the ONLY possible way as well. Any other ways are but "reconstructed" and leads to a dead end, or a pure intellectual exercise, which has no actual significance in the Great Work of transmutation of Man.

Book Reviews and Flame War Propaganda

by GH Frater Sincerus Renatus

Morgan Drake Eckstein just published a "review" of 'Mathers’ Last Secret' yesterday. After his usual barrage of snide remarks against the HOGD/AO (the “trademarked AO”), he wrote the following:

Morgan Drake Eckstein

"One of the big conversations about this book, and the Neophyte ritual that Mathers created for his Golden Dawn offshoot, has been about the shortcuts that Mathers says are permissible "[if] time be of some importance." Most of the Opening becomes optional, large parts of the lecture for the Grade, and even the "Admission ceremony" is optional. Basically, the only thing you cannot skip is the Oath of Obligation."

"In other words, instead of not admitting an Neophyte until a full initiation ritual with a full Opening can be performed, a person could become a Neophtye [sic.] by just paying their dues and committing to keep the AO secret and remaining loyal to Mathers. This reminds me of some of the fringe Freemasonry rituals that I have seen, where a person takes an oath and gets another honorary title to add to their collection."

Again he uses that popular anti A.O. term "optional" the describe Mathers’ motives. What is even more astonishing with Morgan's comment that "even the 'Admission ceremony' is optional" is that he is taking an even further stretch in his smearing of Mathers' reputation than does his friend Farrell! 

Good work Morgan! Everyone who has read Farrell's book knows you are twisting the truth beyond recognition. If this isn’t proof of history revisionism, what is?

I didn't think I would ever have to say this but, I ALMOST wish that people would read 'Mathers’ Last Secret' so that they may found their own opinions about the A.O. 0=0, and see that most of the Mathers / A.O. bashers’ opinions about it is mostly sensationalist fantasies.

For you that haven't read it, let me tell you what is actually possible to abridge in the Admission ceremony:

1. The passing of the Gates can be shortened to contain two or one circumambulations (which BTW is more in harmony with the Cypher Mss. than the original G.D. version)
2. 2. The "Explanations of the Symbols of the Grade" by the Hierophant, which may instead be delivered in a later opened Temple or as a lecture.
3. The "Address of the Hiereus" at the end, which also may be delivered later as in (2). 
4. The "Subjects of study" delivered by the Hierophant, which may instead be delivered later as in (2).
5. And "perhaps the effect of the fluid" at the end.

This leaves the majority of the Admission, including all of the purifications, obligation, passing of the gates, the restoration to Light, conference of signs, etc., i.e. the most fundamental magical points of the reception. What is left out is the lighter magical pars / intellectual information. 

This spreading of disinformation about a competing branch of the G.D. (i.e. a non-Stella Matutina lineage) is beyond comprehension, especially when spread by professed "initiates" and "scholars" of the Golden Dawn.

This speaks volumes about Mathers’ detractors, rather than about him.

It is highly interesting to see how the trolls behave when a truly independent book review comes along, like the review of Farrell's "King Over the Water, written by Wiccan elder and highly respected Pagan author, Frater Barrabbas, that you can read here:

Responding to this thoughtful and thorough review, Pat Zalewski wrote:

"It was interesting to read a review of King over the Water, which has recently popped up. The author cited Sword of Wisdom as a good Mathers biography and essentially admonished Nick for his analysis of Mathers. Now most of us know that Sword of Wisdom was an informative book, but was essentially a whitewash of Mathers and depicted him as a hero throughout. Now Nick does not need me to defend his work as he is quite capable of doing it himself. What I am commenting on here is how people (like the reviewer) have an idealized mental construct of Mathers and don't want that view shattered with some facts getting in the way, as did the author of Sword of Wisdom. The review was a defence of the mental image of Mathers and what he should have been like, not like he was. He apparently cannot differentiate the work Mathers did from the character. Howe lays it out table as to what Mathers was. Though Howe's work is dated, the new material on Mathers that has come to light since Howe, is more peripheral than core.
The reviewer was clearly out of his depth, going by some of the contrasts given. What Nick did in his book was to try and get rid of the fantasized Mathers and let the real one stand up. Now not everyone will agree with all of Nick's comments, but at least he tried to separate fact from fantasy which is a lot more than the reviewer did.
While I admire what Mathers did as far as the GD goes, because I follow his teachings, I do not enshrine them. I also do not confuse the teachings with the personality who brought them through. This is what the reviewer has done by not accepting what a flawed individual Mathers was, and how his teachings deteriorated in the AO when things were pruned out of the old GD rituals, like making the circumambulation optional."

This is the usual rethoric used by Zalewski, that any and all scholarlay critique of Zalewski's and Farrell's Mathers bashing is "putting Mathers on a pedistal". It is nothing of the kind. We fully know and acknowledge our founding fathers faults, and that he eventually fell out of grace of his Secret Chiefs, but that doesn't mean that we are trying our very best to drag his reputation into the mud, as Zalewski and Farrell is doing. That is what all true initiates react against, not paying a past Chief and Adept and Initiate due respect, regardless of his faults. They seem to have forgot the 3=8 lecture on the "General Guidance and Purification of the Soul", which says:

"Be not hasty to condemn other’s sin. How knowest thou that in their place thou couldst have resisted the temptation? And even were it so, why shouldst thou despise one who is weaker than thyself? Be thou well sure of this, that in slander and self-righteousness is sin."

One such example is twisting the fact and hold it against Mathers, such as "how his teachings deteriorated in the AO when things were pruned out of the old GD rituals, like making the circumambulation optional."

What Mathers says in the A.O. 0=0 is that during meetings where time is constricted, the circumambulation (and some other stuff) may be passed over in the Opening and during the initiation reduced to two or one round. To say that it is "pruned out" or “optional” is a streach, at least in my eyes. Mathers says “If time be of importance, some Abridgement of Ritual is permissible”. This doesn't imply a usual conduct but a species of exception from the normal protocol. What Zalewski and Farrell aren't aware of, or wilfully is witholding, is that the minutes of the Ahatoor Temple have a standardized phrase which reads "Opened in full", something that is said in the majority of the entries.

S:.R:.